A bid for cash to revitalise the Woodhouse and Spring Bank estate will be successful, believes ward councillor Lynne Joyce.

She is backing a campaign by Bradford council officers Lynn Taylor and Jeff Bennett for money to pay a temporary community worker for the neighbourhood.

The new worker would work with residents to develop activities, reopen the estate's community centre and apply for permanent funding.

Keighley Area Panel, which employs Lynn and Jeff, hopes to secure cash by September so progress on re-opening the building on Woodhouse Road can be made in the early autumn.

The panel, the local arm of Bradford council, last month discussed the findings of research into community needs in the area and stressed the need for support from residents.

Cllr Joyce says: "This is a really exciting time for the Woodhouse and Spring Bank community.

"Contacts have been made with local people and there has been a positive response to re-opening the centre."

The research revealed support from among the community, especially among young single mothers who want somewhere for their children to spend their time.

The centre closed 12 months ago after the estate's community association disbanded in the face of apathetic residents and rowdy youths. Now the hope is that community spirit can be rebuilt with the new funding and community worker.

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